1) Bigwig
-The bigwigs at FIFA felt they could do whatever they wanted.
-The foot soldiers deserted because they no longer wanted to serve the big wigs.
-The bigwigs in Hunger Games created the games where teenagers fight to the death.
Definition: an important person; a self-important person
Etymology: The fashion for wigs began with the Bourbon kings of France. Louis XIII (1601 - 1643) went prematurely bald and took to wearing a wig. By the middle of the century, and especially during the reign of Louis XIV, The Sun King, wigs were virtually obligatory for all European nobility and 'persons of quality'.
2) big fish in a small pond
-When David Beckham left Real Madrid to play football in America, he became a big fish in a small pond.
-When the former war correspondent retired to do to small town news, he felt he became a big fish in a small pond.
-Tony preferred to stay at the small branch of the corporation, so he could remain a big fish in a small pond.
Definition: one of the most important people in a small group or organization, who would have much less power and importance if they were part of a larger group or organizatio
3) Shotgun wedding
-It was obviously a shotgun wedding, since Jennifer's belly could be seen through the wedding gown.
-Mr. Cheng refused to show up to his son Herman's wedding, since it was a shotgun wedding.
-The merger of Delta and Northwest was obviously a shotgun wedding, since they would each continue losing money unless they merged.
Definition: A wedding made compulsory by bride's pregnancy. The phase is sometimes used to describe business mergers made only for reasons of expediency.
Etymology: At a time and in social circles where a baby's illegitimacy stigmatized both mother and child, something had to be done, and in a hurry. As soon as his unwed daughter broke the news of her pregnancy and the father-to-be's unwillingness to marry her, the father grabbed his shotgun off the wall. With such motivation, the young man was forced to accompany the young lady to the nearest preacher or justice of the peace to make her an honest woman.